Old Pets Need Love, Too
Celebrate Adopt a Senior Pet Month by bringing home an older dog or cat—or three.
A cat is a senior at 11 years of age and a dog is one at age 7, according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). If you ask owners of an 11-year-old cat or 7-year-old dog about the qualities and personalities of their pets, they’ll likely tell you that these “senior” animals are wonderful, playful, charming companions.
Throughout November, all pet lovers are invited to commend the special qualities of senior pets by celebrating Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Every year, animal welfare organizations and shelters highlight the traits and abilities that make older pets great companions for all types of households. Some of the traits mentioned frequently include:
Good behavior. Senior pets are past their wild and crazy kitten and puppy years, and have learned the good habits they need to be polite, nondestructive household residents.- Potty-trained. Most senior pets are already housetrained—unlike their younger counterparts.
- Calm and quiet personalities. If you’re looking for a lap cat or couch snuggler, a senior pet will fit the bill. Instead of begging to play catch or go for long walks, these pets will love quiet moments with you.
- Quick learners. Senior dogs and cats are more likely to pick up on new household rules—and follow them. Who knows? Maybe that older pet will teach you a trick or two as well.
- Established personalities. While it might sometimes involve some guesswork to figure out the personality of a kitten or a puppy (is he really that friendly or just full of youthful energy?), with a senior pet, what you see is what you get. These lovable older pets have fully formed personalities, making it easier to match the pet to the rhythm and vibe of your household. (Bonus: You also know exactly how large the pet will become, because he’s already full grown.)
Shelter staff encourage pet lovers to consider senior pets, noting that the animals still have plenty of affection and love to give to a family. This month is set aside to highlight these special pets because older ones typically have a more difficult time finding a new home.
If you want to celebrate National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) suggests contacting a shelter near you to learn about any planned adoption events. You can also help by spreading the word. Is your neighbor talking about adopting a new pet? Let him know how many wonderful senior dogs and cats are waiting for him at his local animal shelter. Mention Adopt a Senior Pet Month on your social media accounts, too.
About the Author: Stacy N. Hackett is an award-winning writer with more than 25 years’ experience in the pet industry. She is the former editor of Pet Product News and a former staff editor with Cat Fancy, Cats USA, Critters USA and Ferrets USA. To learn more about her work, visit stacynhackett.vpweb.com.
Cats have a long cherished presence in literature; from ancient India’s “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” (circa 5th/4th century BCE) to great classics from the 20th and 21st centuries. Bookshelves around the world contain stories and poems about cats in a range of genres, including mystery (e.g., “The Cat Who….” series by Lillian Jackson Braun), science fiction (e.g., Robert Heinlein’s “The Cat Who Walls Through Walls”), fantasy (e.g., “Tailchaser’s Song” by Tad Williams), poetry (e.g., T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” which was the basis for the musical Cats), satire (e.g., Mikhail Bulgahov’s “The Master and Margarita”), horror (e.g., Pet Cemetary by Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft’s The Cats of Ulthar) and children (e.g., Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” and the French fairytale “Puss in Boots”).
Among the ones I remember best is a short story by Edgar Allen Poe called “The Black Cat.” You shouldn’t be surprised that it’s not a happy tale (pun intended). The story’s narrator has a black cat named Pluto. When the alcoholic narrator begins abusing the poor cat, the cat vows vengeance—and gets it when the narrator accidently kills his wife and walls her behind bricks to hide his deed. The narrator is caught when police hear sounds behind the wall and discover his wife’s body along with the cat, whom the narrator accidentally entombed as well.
One of my all-time favorite fictional cats is the mysterious and frequently disappearing Cheshire Cat in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The vexing feline reminds Alice that the entire world is crazy—including her. He evades execution when he disappears while on the Queen of Hearts chopping block (prompting a brisk debate between the Queen of Hearts and her executioner about whether something without a body can indeed be beheaded.) And don’t forget that Alice had a cat, Dinah, in the “real” world, too.
The Harry Potter series: Cats are common as “familiars” and pets for aspiring wizards. Crookshanks, who first appears in the third book is Hermione’s favored flat-faced cat who befriends Sirius Black; and Mrs. Norris is a red-eyed, standoffish tortie of Hogwarts’ caretaker, Argus Filch. Together, the tattle-tale cat and her caretaker patrol the halls of Hogwarts seeking out students who skip class or sneak out at night.
Cats can also be found in plenty of nonfiction books, too. In “Homer’s Odyssey,” a blind, little black cat finds his home with Gwen Cooper, who discovers her home is best used as loving retreat for blind cats. And in “Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat,” Dr. David Dosa tells the story of a nursing home’s a cat who seemingly knows when patients are nearing the end and how Oscar helped him learn to listen.
The international sensation, “A Street Cat Named Bob” is the story of arguably the most famous busker cat in England who is credited for helping his owner overcome a heroin addiction and move up from the ranks of street musician to bestselling author. The duo has several other books out now and a movie scheduled for release in November 2016.
The last book on my list is the New York Times bestseller “Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat That Changed the World,” which tells the true story about the power of love between species. It’s an inspiring, heroic tale that begins in tragedy when Dewey, a tiny, helpless kitten, was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa. Only a few weeks old, he was taken in by library director Vicki Myron, a single mother with her own tragedies. For the next 19 years, this kitten who suffered through frostbite, abandonment and starvation, made his home in the library, offering comfort and inspiration to all who needed it most.
The next time you have a movie night at home, don’t forget to include popcorn for your pup. Doggiee Snack Bar Organic Doggiee Pupcorn dog treats combine the fun of popcorn with the goodness of tasty meat and the benefits of a low-calorie treat. Available in two flavors—Organic Beefy Pupcorn and Organic Chicken Pupcorn—the treats are made with just two ingredients: all-natural popcorn and organic beef or chicken flavoring. The popcorn comes in 19.5 oz. eco-friendly burlap bags. 
Squeak is the newest member of the Orbee-Tuff® family of dog toys from Planet Dog. Just as durable as the original but now with a fun sound your dog is sure to love, the bouncy, buoyant, minty and chewy ball features a unique, patent-pending squeaker that contains no adhesives or glues, making it 100-percent nontoxic. Three-inches round, the Squeak is available in two fun colors—bright orange and clear-sky blue—and has a 5/5 durability rating for the most aggressive chewers. Like all Orbee-Tuff toys, it is made in the USA and 100 percent guaranteed. 
PureBites® Mixers for cats are made with 100 percent pure meat. Formulated for use as a topper, mixer, appetizer or treat, their aroma, texture and freshness will help satisfy your cat’s carnivorous cravings. Naturally high in protein with only 30 calories per 1.76-oz. tray, PureBites Mixers come in five recipes, which contain only chicken and/or fish and water: chicken breast, wild skipjack tuna, chicken breast & wild ocean shrimp, wild skipjack tuna & Alaskan salmon, wild skipjack tuna & chicken breast. 
PawFlex Wickedly Potent! dog shampoos are formulated with pure essential oils, botanical butters and healthy plant oils, such as olive and coconut to help nourish and care for your dog’s skin and coat—and be kind to our planet at the same time. The shampoos are produced in small batches to ensure freshness, consistency and perfection. They come in clear 8.5-oz. bottles so you can see the ingredients’ natural colors—no dyes or coloring ingredients are use. The shampoos are available in eight formulas for a variety of benefits: Calming, Itchy Mutt, Puppy Love, Healing Skin, Achy Joints, Flea & Ticks, Smelly Dog and The Everything Shampoo! 
New Age Pet’s Habitat ‘n Home Jumbo Litter Loo for cats is designed to accommodate the largest sized litter boxes as well as smaller ones. Featuring a larger overall size to accommodate larger pans and self-cleaning litter boxes, the Loo’s pull down front panel makes installation and removal of the litter box a snap and the shelf provides storage space for litter box accessories and tools. Made of ecoFLEX™, a non-toxic composite material comprised of recyclable polymers and reclaimed poplar, the Jumbo Litter Loo is available three colors: Espresso, Russet and Antique White. 
Even though stores have been displaying Halloween-themed items since August, we’ve finally reached the holiday’s home month, which is why I’m giving you a look at some of the fun new costumes that are available for all kinds of pets.
The Tarantula made video news last year when a man dressed his small dog up as a giant spider and terrorized those out for their evening walk (don’t do that; it’s a good way to get your dog seriously injured). Instead, try out a startling lifelike fuzzy tarantula from Zack & Zoey. If also offers other creepy costumes, such as a scorpion, as well as a plethora of adorable ones (mermaid, dragon, owl, giraffe and more). You can find Zack & Zoey costumes at Amazon.com, BaxterBoo.com and other online retailers as well as several independent pet stores.
Your dog might also make a great dinosaur and if that’s the case, check out the range of costumes by Animal Planet. You can dress up your dog as a stegosaurus, raptor or triceratops. And if dinosaurs aren’t your thing, you could select from a wide variety of critters by Animal Planet, including bats, butterflies, whales, sharks, tortoises, zebras, etc. The costumes are available from Amazon.com and other online retailers.
New this year for dogs is the Troll costume, which will also be the star attraction in theatres this fall. The Troll is part of the new AKC Pet Costume line by BH Pet Gear, which features a variety of fun, adorable, comfortable and safe dress-up options, including an elephant, shark, monkey, pumpkin, wonder dog and devil. All the AKC-brand costumes are available online and in independent pet stores.
If you’re not sure your dog would enjoy wearing a costume (and many dogs are not interested in doing so), then don’t force them. There are many other options, such as specially designed paint for pets from 
Cats rarely submit to wearing a costume, but there are some who willingly (or grudgingly) accept playing dress up. There are a few costume options for those of you with obliging cats. 
If you cannot get your cat into a costume without risking bodily harm, consider dressing yourself up with your cat as a prop. You could have your cat on hand for picture or two and then replace her with a stuffed animal while you’re at parties or out roaming the neighborhood. One of my favorites is Alice in Wonderland the Cheshire Cat. You could even pick up a 
If your cat loves fish, consider adding Cat Sushi cat treats from SF Pet Foods to your shopping list. Made from just one ingredient—100 percent skipjack tuna—the all-natural, flaked treats are high in protein and low in fat, making them deliciously healthful for discerning felines everywhere. Using an ancient process that slowly dries the fish and then slices it into extremely thin pieces, Cat Sushi features only the largest flakes. It is great as an appetizer or a standalone treat and can be mixed in with dry or wet food. 
Ever wondered what your dog does at home while you’re away? The Petzi Treat Cam™ lets you check in on your pets and share treats with them from anywhere at any time. The app-controlled, Wi-Fi-connected remote pet treat dispenser makes it easy to check-in and interact with your pet from any smartphone or tablet. The cam features a wide-angle camera with night vision, high-quality audio and a universal treat launcher that works with any dry, crunchy treat smaller than 1 inch. It comes with multiple mounting options so that you can place the treat cam wherever it best suits your needs. A dedicated iOS or Android app controls the device and makes it easy to share captured images. 
Nekochan’s handcrafted and extremely realistic Neko Flies cat toys are designed to provide hours of exercise and fun for your cat—and you. Made with only cat-safe materials, the dangling toys come in eight critter shapes that are sure to captivate your cat: a creepy, crawly spider with dangly legs; an iridescent-winged dragonfly; a furry and a fluffy long-tailed mouse; a dangly legged centipede; a long-tailed cicada; an iridescent winged butterfly; and a BirBug (part-bird, part-bug). The toys attach to either a basic, 22-in. clear acrylic rod or an adjustable (18, 25 and 32 in.), telescoping rod made of graphite material. 
P.L.A.Y.’s Pet Teepee provides a fun and safe snuggle space for your pet, and adds an architectural design element to your home. Constructed of 100 percent, cotton canvas and pinewood poles, the cozy hideout features a circular front opening and removable interior cushion, making it great spot for your dog or cat to play or nap. Designed for easy set-up and care (the canvas is machine washable and dryer friendly), the durable Pet Teepee comes in four styles—Moroccan pattern in navy blue or marsala, denim and classic—measuring 24.8 x 24.8 x 29.1 inches in size. 
Get your dog packed up and ready to go on a long or short hike with Kurgo’s lightweight, tough, adjustable-fit Baxter Pack dog backpack. Designed to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, it has eight different adjustment points to get the proper fit for any dog. The backpack includes a rear-mounted leash hook that works like a harness and the ergonomic padded spine support contours to a dog’s back for a comfortable fit and provides weight distribution for the two saddlebags. The pack has space to store all of your canine’s travel essentials (food, treats, toys, first-aid supplies and travel bowls) and includes a large handle to help dogs over rock scrambles or extract them from water. Available in two sizes, the pack comes in Barn Red, Coastal Blue, Sea Glass, Purple & Gray, Black & Orange and Ink Blue & Electric Green. 
Handcrafted from real wood and designed to complement any room, the Curio® reimagines the cat litter box as a piece of fine furniture. Inspired by classic mid-20th century design, it is made in the USA of furniture-quality, pre-finished europlywood. Inside is a custom-fitted Curio Litter Liner litter pan, which is constructed from durable, waterproof polymer and features 10-in. high walls for litter retention and side handles for easy lift out. (The Curio also accommodates many standard size litter pans.) It is available in three styles: maple, walnut and patterned walnut and comes with a 30-day money-back return policy and is covered by a limited one-year warranty. 
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Some dogs are heroes in small ways. Such as 
In May 2011, when Navy SEAL Team Six raided the compound of Osama bin Laden, they did so with the help of a 
